Additional Remedies to Combine with Acne Laser Treatment

While acne laser treatment is a highly effective form of acne therapy, there are some other common treatments that can be combined with laser therapy for even better results. There are 6 other common ways to treat acne, and these methods actually work better when paired with another therapy than when used alone.

1. Over the Counter Topical Treatments

These OTC treatments are usually creams or ointments applied to your skin. The active ingredients in these medications vary, but usually they contain sulfur, salicylic acid, lactic acid, or benzoyl peroxide. These ointments work best for treating mild outbreaks.

2. Prescription Topical Treatments

The next step up from OTC topical treatments is a treatment that can be obtained by a prescription. Like OTC medications, these salves should be applied to your skin. There are a few different types of prescription treatments available. Some, like tretinoin (Retin-A), adapalene (Differin) and tazarotene (Tazorac) are derived from vitamin A. They keep the hair follicles from becoming plugged and help speed cell turnover. There are also creams that use a more highly-concentrated form of benzoyl peroxide. These can also be combined with antibiotics, such as erythromycin. These combinations work by killing bacteria in your skin that causes acne.

3. Antiobiotics

Oral antibiotics have been proven effective at controlling severe acne outbreaks as they kill bacteria that cause acne. Erythromycin and tetracycline are some of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics. Antibiotic therapy is usually combined with another type of therapy as it does not aid in lessening oil production in the skin.

4. Oral Contraceptives

Dermatologists sometimes prescribe oral contraceptives such as Ortho-Cyclen for women who are experiencing acne problems. Oral contraceptives help smooth our hormonal imbalances that may contribute to forming acne.

5. Light-Based Therapies

Light-based therapy is similar to laser therapy, but uses a beam of light to kill bacteria. It may prove helpful when used in tandem with laser therapy as different lights target different strains of bacteria. If your acne does not completely clear up with one therapy, the other may be helpful in killing other types of bacteria that may be present.

6. Chemical Peels and Microdermabrasion

Chemical peels and microdermabrasion are cosmetic procedures that are commonly used to minimize the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and scars. If you have acne scars that do not fade away with laser therapy, they can be reduced through the use of one of these procedures. All of these therapies are common therapeutic treatments that a dermatologist will recommend for the treatment of acne. However, because these treatments do not change the amount of oil produced by the sebaceous glands, they may be more effective when paired with laser therapy. Acne laser therapy is unique in that the laser actually shrinks the sebaceous glands, and significantly decreasing the amount of oil those glands produce. Consult with your dermatologist to see what other methods can be combined with your laser therapy to best treat your acne.